The Rideau Institute Board of Directors congratulates Kathleen Ruff, a member of the Board, for being named a “National Public Health Hero” by the Canadian Public Health Association.

From the Canadian Public Health Association website:

Kathleen RuffCPHA National Public Health Hero Award

Kathleen Ruff has long been respected in Canada and internationally as a human rights advocate. Most recently, she has demonstrated her commitment to these rights – as well as her extreme expertise on the subject – by speaking out and mobilizing others to support banning of the extraction and utilization of asbestos, a ban made necessary by the mortality rate of approximately 107,000 persons per year as estimated by the World Health Organization.

Her courageous leadership in seeking this ban has been fundamental in mobilizing the citizenry of Canada and in revealing the inaccuracies in the propaganda that the asbestos industry has employed for the better part of the last century to mislead citizens about the seriousness of the threat of asbestos for human health. Ms. Ruff’s presentations, written and spoken, and her actions have been critical in re-establishing the preponderance of science over political expediency. Ms. Ruff has been effective in mobilizing the scientific community to speak up about the dangers of chrysotile asbestos and to call for a ban on its mining and export.

The contributions of Ms. Ruff to enlighten the public will remain examples of how an individual can lead, and for this she more than deserves this award.